Bumper for motor vehicles



June 15 1926.

R. TOSSELL \BUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l P HHHHI K I H: lllll v June 15 192.6.

, R. TOSSELL BUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March ll 7206/2601! P/cwA/w 7506541.

5; Ju-M Patented June 15, 1926,

UNITED STATES- 1,588,507 A ENT OFFICE.

RICHARD .TOSSELL, OF, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,606.

The invention of this application, which is a continuation in part of my application; Serial No. 491,411, filed August 11, 1921, in so far as common subject matter is concerned, relates to bumpers for automobiles and consists of improvements whereby efliciency of protection, cheapness of manufacture and enhancement of appearance are so cured. f 4

The bumper is preferably of the double bar type, in which the bars are flat metal strips of suitable material and of sufficient size and strength for the purpose. The ends of the bumper are preferably formed by folding the horizontal or longitudinal members more or less diagonally over and back, whereby graceful curves are imparted to the ends and corners of the bumper, and the horizontal bars are connected by a substantially vertically extending integral continuation thereof.

While the bumper is ornamental as a Whole, I prefer-to shape or form the inter- I end of anautomobile equipped with a I then folded or bent over. to the rear on diagmediate portion of the bumper into a fanciful design, and I prefer also that this fanciful design be made to correspond with and thus to simulate the distinctive lines, name plates or insignia of the particular cars with which the bumpers are to be used, whereby the bumper harmonizes with the car as a whole in fitting and appearance.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of the front end of theautomobile with one form of the bumper attached;

Figure 2 is a similar view of another automobile with a bumper attached having adifferent conformation;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the same general type of bumper'detached from the car;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of thefiltinit l ferent form of a bumper. I

Referring now to various figures, the bum per comprises thetwo vertically separated horizontal bars 10, preferably of fiat steel, having their outer ends slightly curved to the proper or desired contour to give, as shown in Figure 2, a slight rearward bend to the ends of the bumper; and the bars are onal corner curves to form the end pieces 11, which thus form vertical integral end connections between the upper and lower bars, and. thus produce grace-fully curved ends for the bumper as a whole.- The bending may be readily accomplished over suitable forms when the material is heated. p 1

As shown in the various figures of the drawings, the horizontal bars, to ether with the folded end connections, may y welding or otherwise be formed into an integraland endless looped member.

These horizontalbars may extend'straightacross from end to end of the bumper as in Figure 3, or be vertically bent or crossed in various ways, as, for example, in Figure 1, to give the bumper any desired form or appearance. I preferably also so shape or form these horizontal bars in their medial portion as to simulate a fanciful design and preferably to corres 0nd to and follow the distinctive lines of t e front end of the particular cars, or the name plates or insignia thereof, with which they are to be used, and

attach, to the medial parts of said bars 10.

which are in the same vertical plane other metal pieces, such, for. example, as the vertical strips 11*, Fi ures 2 or 3, or 11 Figure 1, to complete t e designs, lines, plates or insignia, whereby an ornamental and distinctive appearance is imparted to the bumper and car. The strips 11, or 11 or any others whichmay be so'applied, serve also to brace and strengthen the bars and consequently afford better protection.

In Figure 4, andifl'erent configuration of the longitudinal bars and a different way of forming the inner ends of the bumper sec? tions is illustrated. Here the longitudinal bars are curved by edgewise bending them as shown, and their inner ends are bent edgewise into an integral loop and Welded toether as at 11; the two loops bein'g'overapped and secured together as by riveting, boltin or clamping, form an elliptical shape figure at the middle of the bar, which may conform to the name plate or insignia of the car. The vertical connecting portions of the bars may also be bent edger wise somewhat between the diagonal or obllgi le end folds as is shown atll in Figure 2.

' hese bumper bars are preferably supported from the rojecting ends of the channel side bars of t e car, by vertical spring loops 13 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the car. These loops also are preferably formed of flat spring bars and extend slight- 1 1y above and elow the bumper JETS, to which'they are secured bybolts or rivets or as desired 4 I 2 The extreme ends of the bumper also are preferably supported from the side frames of the car by curved braces 14, of flat steel bars, bolted, riveted o-r clamped flatwise at one end to the rear face of the ends 11 of the bumper, and at the other end to the side frames of the car chassis.

While I have thus particularly described several different forms of my invention, it will be understood that various changes and alterations therefrom may be made without departing from the scope and principle of the same as set forth or intended to beset forth in the appended claims.

3. The automobile bumper element comintegrally across bumper, said bars having substantially flat Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in theUni'ted States, is

' 1; 'A bumper member formed of relatively wide and thin strip metal bent and welded to form a closed integral loop embodying a pair of substantially horizontally extending vertically wide bars spaced vertically in alignment and integral end connecting means.

2. A. bumper impact member having connector portions and a plurality of vertically aligned and vertically relatively wide imj pact receiving bars welded and bent to form a closed integral loop with the connector portions.

prising anendless-stripof relatively wide and thin material having vertically .dis

placed portions and interposed connector portions of the strip having junction folds extendingangularly across the strip.

4;." The automobile bumper element comprising an endlessstrip of relatively wide and thin material having vertically dis- .placed. portions and interposed connectorportions of the strip havingjunction folds extending angularly across the strip, and joining said vertically displaced portions without substantial edgewise bending.

5. A vehicle bumper-member comprising a pair of verticall spaced bars extending rom end to end of the impact receiving' faces, and connectin means at the-ends of the bumper integra with both of said bars.

- 6. A vehicle bumper member comprising pair of verticall spaced bars extending integrally across rom end to end of the bumper and having superposed rearwardly curved portions at their ends, said bars having'substantially flat impact receiving faces,

andiconnecting means at the ends of the bumper'comprising bent over extensions integral with both of said bars.

T 37 A=vehicle bumper-member comprising a" pair of vertically spaced bars extending integrally straight across from'end to end fof the bumper, said vbars having substantially fiat impact receiving faces, and connecting means at the ends of the bumper integral with both of said bars:

8. A one-piece vehicle bumper member comprising a pair of vertically spaced bars extending straight across from .end to end of the bumper, said bars having substantially flat Impact receiving faces, and connecting means at the ends of the bumper comprising I bent over extensions integral with both of said bars.

9. 'A. one-piece automobi'le bumper front member comprising a pair of vertically aligned vertically displaced laterally extending bumper front bars formed of relatively wide steel strip and each having at each'end integrally connected obliquely folded connector portions formingthe lateral ends of the bumper front member.

10. A bumper front consisting of two flat I metal bars extending substantially horizontally and transversely of the vehicle, said bars being connected at their outer ends by v vertically extending portions formed by folding the bars fiatwise obliquely to the horizontal bars, said bars and connecting portions comprising an endless strip forming a closed loop.

11. A two-bar bumper front for vehicles comprising 'two end portions welded to-' that plane, both said barsubeing reflexed rearward at both endstov form end loops for guarding the vehicle wheel, the two barsi being integral throughout said loops, being flexed vertically to merge with each other at the inner ends of the loops. 2 v I 13; An automobile bumper comprising a (portions comprismg two vertically duplex impact member consisting of two spring bars extending integrally and transversely straight across from end to end of the bum er and set vertically edgewise in substant1ally the same vertical plane, both said bars being reflexed, rearward at both ends of the bum er, the upper bar portion...

then'extending ownwardly. and the lower bar portion similarly extending upwardly and meeting, said upperbar portion.

14. A bumper member comprising an endless spring strip formed substantially into the shape ofan elongated four-sided figure,

the opposite sides of which are setvertically edgewise in substantially the same vertical planes, the front facesvof each side of the figure comprising. continuations-of the rear I ztrip surfaces of the adjacent sides of the end portions bent toward the frame, and

' supporting flat spring arms each being con- 15. The'eombination with an automobile nected to said regionof the loop and having frame, of an endless steel rod forming an .its opposite end clamped to said frame. elongated bumper bar loop with, upper In witness whereof, I have hereunto suband lower members in approximately the scribed my name..

same vertical plane, connected in their cen- Y tral region by cross bars and having their RICHARD iTOSSELL 

